A proposal for Townsville’s (North Queensland, Australia) first purpose built mountain bike course on Mt Stuart has received conditional support from City Hall. The go ahead allows planning to proceed for the downhill cross-country trail on a section of council road reserve on the Mt Stuart Scenic Drive.
The proposal has been put forward by the Townsville Rockwheelers Mountain Bike Club, which has developed a detailed management plan for track design, construction, maintenance, and risk management.
Deputy Mayor Cr Ann Bunnell said the council’s Community Development Services staff assisted the bike club in establishing a Trailcare Committee and a Sustainable Trails Network for the city. “The council is supportive of the proposal, but it is important that the every effort is made to limit any impacts the track may have on the local environment and the club is receptive to what we are saying,” Cr Bunnell said.
“Council staff have been providing club officials assistance on a range of issues including the establishment of a committee for the sustainable and proper management of the trail and other trails like it in the city,”
The council’s support requires the bike club to meet a range of conditions including:
- undertaking a flora and fauna survey along the proposed track with support of council;
- meet any Legal and Risk Management requirements;
- provide adequate public liability insurance;
- enter into an agreement with council to manage and maintain the trail in an environmentally sustainable way.
AUstralian MTB governing body MTBA congratulated the Rockwheelers for their persistence and patience approach in putting forward the plan and the Townsville City Council for their forward and pro-active thinking about sustainable MTB activity in the city.
